Relay valve for compressed fluids



Sept. 25, 1951 A. -DEWANDRE RELAY VALVE FOR COMPRESSED FLUIDS Filed April 1'7, 1946 4 136 w cbzvdl 6 11 L) Zy Patented Sept. 25, 1951 "Myinve'ntion concerns distrlbutors iorcompressed fluid-and especiallya: relay valve'for the automatic braking of 'trailers'.

"In non au't'omatic installations for *braking trailers '--by compressed fluid; it is the general custom-=to have "a control" valve for: the= d'ireet' control-o'f' the-fluidpressure inthe brake cylinders of-thetrailer.- "Nevertheless; when sueh acontrol valve" is -fused for the ccntrol'of brakes in installations "for automatic braking -of"-trailers, itis necessary to add to 'theinstallation a relay=- valve "controll'ed by the control valve in order to regulate the drop in pressureof the-fluid inthe-pipe=system'oftheinstallation. I

' "There are already 'suc-h relay 'valvesin "which an: arrangement of pistons controlling the valves is pushed against the yresi'stanceof 'a 'drag "spring: under thepressureof thedisti'ibuted fluid. These relay valves "-have*-however--the= disaavanbageer having tmwork with a" minimum pressure13f the fluidan'd l-ack SenSitiVityin thecase of accidental ili'niinution of the pressu-re'in theinstallatiom The present? invention has ---as* its cbject -1:ne

obviation ofsuchinconveniences;

According'tothe'inventionjan elastic meansof' resistance is-opposed toany'movement of the pi'stons controlling the-valves of the relay valve and offer'a resistance which yarieyautomatically' accordingi-tofthe pressure in the reservoir pr in thesource OfJthe fiui'dof' the installation: 'Two" "forms 'of'theflinvention will be-described hereinatter' with reference t'o-{the accompanying"'drawing,in'"which:

IFigure l-is' a; sectionalview through the centre of the mechanismpf'afirst formiof'relayvalve; *fFigure 2' is'arr" arrangement" view, showing the combination 'of' thetrelay' valve and the control valve in a'n' automatic" installation i'for brakingtrailers. f

"Figure"3"shows in section second=fornr ofre'lay valve. 5 v v w Figure '4 'i s an arrangement; showing" the coin nections between 'valve 'Figurei 3and the piping ofthe installation.

' "In the form shown" in Figure 1 th relay: valve consists ofj-abody 5; in the-b0re of which "works av iston-'6 forming-on one-'si'deachamber iii communication; through a' pipe 8 with fthe resei voir. or the source ofthefluid and on" the-:other hand," a chamber 9 in communication witlithe "In piston 6 there-is providedan axialiop'enihg III through 'whichfpasses the spindle- I 2f offnor-fmally-open valve I 3--which ;works" in conjunction withtheseat l' l-formed'around the rim o'f-th'e sperms; (0!. cos-cm;

opening l l; Spindle l"2'works ina borel5 forme'd i'n the-oentre'o'f a; normally closed-valve f6 and" is limited in its movements bya lost motion link constituted'b'y an oblong hole H inthespin'dle andapinlt'fixed in-valve [6. 'This last valve fits' into' a central boss l9 provided inthe bo'dy Sand works inconjunction with aseat 2 9 formed on a' socket E'l' screwedfinto the bod'y '5'. Valve l6 has a spindle 22 which extends int'othe open the atmosphere through passages 26, rece'ssZTand thespace 2-3 Ofsockt Z l;

' Insideachamber Z'S; concentricwith chamber" T: and separated hermetically from it "by' a' wall 39works a piston 31 connected to piston-'6 by means'cf a spindle=32 which moves-in a-manner wh-ich-ensures' its tightnessthrou'gh-thesaid wall 30. A return spring 33 is provided betwe'en t-he' said'pi'ston"3l "and the cover 34' of-"chamber*29. A pipe connection35 putsthis latter chamherin communication -with the conventional control valveiSBt: (Figure? 2): 'on the installation which-is workedfibyxpedal131'1of rod mechanism 38 controlling thetractor bra'kes. The: working of the relay valve is as follows:

i Ini'theinormal position of the-parts of the ar rangem'ent; pistons S'I' -and-B are forc edto the right under the action of return spring-33 whilst valve I5 is shut and valve l-3 open, putting chambersf1 and '9 into communication. Since: chamber 1 is in constant communication with the source or the -reservoir of the fluid, maximum fluid pressure prevails in thesaidchambers- 1' and; 9 andisas a-fconsequence 1. in the v pipe system mae'cPistonifii 'zthusiin-a positionrof equilibrium;

mowi'peda'l.. 3:! iofr'the rod: mechanismx38 is manipulatedzfor braking; purposes, control'iisrexe ercised simultaneously. on-ithe control valve :36. and airlund er: pressure is delivered from this lat-- ter andsenters. chamber 295- and;actson piston-31; which, under the actionof the compressedifluid, moves: toward theleft carrying with it piston; 6. The effect .of. this moy ement is to close valve 1.3, isolatingchan'iber; toiopen valve I6, thus permittin'g'the air in chamber? andiin th 'pipe. system I'D to escape into the atmosphera'through passages 26, recess ZI an d hollow space-23. The amount'of airwhich thus escapes is proportional to 'the' 'coinpressed air aidmitted to chamber 29. The-drop inthe' pressure in chambereis'compensated=*by' the pressure" admitted into chamber 29; andthepisto'ns and va'lvescanreassumeat 3 any moment equilibrium on the one hand through the pressure of the air in chamber 1, a pressure which remains constant, and, on the other hand, through the sum of the pressures acting toward the left on pistons 6 and 3| respectively in cham bers '9 and 29.

If, in the opposite sense, pedal 31 is released with a reduction of suppression in chamber 29 of pressure delivered by the control valve 36, a reverse movement Of the parts will take place in the relay valve, with an increase in pressure in chamber 9 and the pipe system l and a corresponding releasing of the trailer brakes.

In the alternative arrangement of Figure 3, the relay valve comprises a body a consisting of two compartments separated by a partition 40. In the lower compartment a piston 4| works, un der the pressure of a return spring 42 and forms on its two opposite faces chambers 43 and 44, which communicate, the first through pipe 8, with the fluid or reservoir of the installation, and the second, through pipe 35, with the control valve 36 of the installation.

In the top compartment a second piston 45 works having at its centre an opening 46 from which extends downwards a spindle 41 which passes through, in a manner which ensures its air-tightness, the partition 40, and rests at its lower end on the piston 4|.

Piston 45 forms, in the upper compartment of the valve, two chambers 48 and 49, the first of which opens to the atmosphere through aperture 5. and the second into pipe system H of the installation.

The rim of aperture 46 of the piston 45 forms a seating 5| for a valve 52, under the action of a spring 53 and this valve 52 normally rests on the said seat in order to prevent communication between the chambers 48 and 49, this communication being established through opening 45 and passages 54.

Valve 52 is guided in a central cylinder 55, part of the valve body 5a, and having a collar 56 forming the seating for a valve 51, suitably guided in a bore formed by an extension of cylinder 55 and under the action of spring 58.

Valve 5'! is normally held ofi its seat by spindle 59 of valve 52 to allow communication, through passages 60, between chamber 49 and passage 5|, which is formed in the valve body 5a and extends as far as chamber 43, which is in communication with the source of the fluid.

The working of this alternative construction of relay valve is as follows:

In normal working pistons 4| and 45 are in a state of equilibrium under the action of the pressure prevailing in chambers 43 and 49, whilst chambers 44 and 48 are at atmospheric pressure.

When the air under pressure, delivered by the control valve 36, enters through pipe 35 into chamber 44 the aforesaid equilibrum is broken and piston 4| is forced downwards (looking at Figure 3) against the pressure in chamber 43 and the resistance of the spring 42. 4

Under the action of the pressure existing in chamber 49, piston 45 which rests upon piston 4|, is set in movement together with this latter, allowing in succession the closing of valve 51 and the opening of valve 52, the movement of this latter being limited due to the collars 52a and 55a. Chamber 49 is thus isolated from passage 6| and put into communication with the atmosphere through the aperture 36, passages 54, chamber 48 and the opening 59. The amount of air 4 which thusescapes is proportional to the compressed air admitted to chamber 44.

As in the relay valve described in the first place, the drop in pressure in chamber 49 is compensated by the pressure admitted into chamber 44, and the system, pistons and valves can be put in equilibrium on the one hand as a result of the air pressure in chamber 43, which remains constan'f, and on the other hand by the sum of the pressures acting on pistons 4| and 45 respectively in chambers 44 and 49.

What I claim is:

1. A relay valve device comprising a casing divided into two compartments, a first pressure responsive movable member in one of said compartments dividing the same into two chambers, one of which is connected to the device to be controlled and the other of which is in constant communication with a source of relatively high pressure, a normally open valve element actuated by movementof said pressure responsive member and arranged to control communication of said one chamber with said other chamber, a normally closed valve element arranged to control communication of said one chamber with asource of relatively low pressure, a direct connection betweensaid valve elements, and a second pressure responsive movable member in the other compartment of the casing dividing said compartment into two chambers, one of which is connected to the control line, said first and second pressure responsive movable members being mechanically interconnected. I

2. A relay valve device comprising a casing divided into two compartments, a first pressure responsive movable member in one of saidcompartments, dividing the same into two chambers, one of which is connected to the device to be controlled and the other of which is in constant communication with a'source of relatively high pressure, a normally open valve element at one side of said one chamber actuated by movement of said pressure responsive member andarranged to control communication of said one chamber with said other chamber, a normally closed valve element at the opposite side of said onechamber arranged to control communication of said one chamber with a source of relatively low pressure, a direct connection between said valve elements, and a second pressure responsive movable member in the other compartment of the casing dividing said compartment into two chambers, one of which is connected tothe control line, said first and second pressure responsive movable members being mechanically interconnected.

3. A relay valve device comprising. a casing divided into two compartments, a first pressure responsive movable member in one of said compartments dividing the same into two chambers, one of which is connected to the device to be controlled and the other of which is in constant communication with va source of relatively high pressure, a normally open valve elementat one side of said one chamber actuated by movement of said pressure responsive member and arranged to control communication of said one chamber with said other chamber, a normally closed valve element at the opposite side of said one chamber arranged to control communication of said one chamber with a source of relatively low pressure, a direct connection between said valve elements, said connection incorporating a lost-motion link, and a second pressure responsive movable member in the other compartment of the casing dividing said compartment into two chambers, one

of which is connected to the control line, said first and second pressure responsive movable members being mechanically interconnected.

4. A relay valve device comprising a casing divided into two compartments, a first pressure responsive movable member in one of said compartments dividing the same into two chambers which are in communication when said first pressure responsive movable member is in released position, one of said chambers being connected to the device to be controlled, and the other of which is constantly connected to a source of relatively high pressure, said pressure responsive movable member having an axial opening therein, a normally open valve element actuated by movement of said pressure responsive member and arranged to control said opening, a normally closed valve element arranged to control communication of said chamber with a source of relatively low pressure, a direct connection between said valve elements, and a second pressure responsive movable member in the other compartment of the casing dividing said compartment into two chambers, one of which is connected to the control line, said first and second pressure responsive movable members being mechanically interconnected.

5. A relay valve device comprising a casing divided into two compartments, a firstpressure responsive movable member in one of said compartments dividing the same into two chambers which are in communication when said first pressure responsive movable member is in released position, one of said chambers being connected to the device to be controlled, and the other of which is constantly connected to a source of relatively high pressure, said pressure responsive movable member having an axial opening therein, a normally open valve element actuated by movement of said pressure responsive member and arranged to control said opening, a normally closed valve element arranged to control communication of said chamber with a source of relatively low pressure, a direct connection between said valve elements, and a second pressure responsive movable member in the other compartment of the casing dividing said compartment into two chambers, one of which is connected to the control line, and the other of which is connected to the low pressure source, said first and second pressure responsive movable members being mechanically interconnected.

ALBERT DEWANDRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 768,537 McElroy Aug. 23, 1904 785,537 Barry Mar. 21, 1905 811,765 C'orey Feb. 6, 1906 912,973 Murphy Feb. 16, 1909 1,791,901 McIntyre Feb. 10, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 385,163 Great Britain Dec. 22, 1932 

